RECONSTRUCTING TRANSPORT PLANNING: LESSONS FROM POLICY BREAKDOWNS IN THE ENGLISH PENNINES

This paper argues that transport planning initiatives in the UK, including those by the Department of Transport (DoT), have failed, because their mechanisms cannot allow for the many complex and transient contexts around the decision-making process. This argument is developed by examining the policy debate about trans-Pennine transport links in the early 1990s, and exploring why this process failed to deliver solutions to strategic transport problems. An explicit attempt was made there to deliver strategic transport planning at a regional level. The extension of cost-benefit appraisal to rail schemes was explored at a strategic level. The process of public transport planning is illustrated. Normative evaluation is used, to show the factors at work during different stages of the planning process. The Road Study and the Rail Study are described in some detail, with reference to their problem definitions, models, consultation process, decision making, and policy outcomes. No sustainable transport strategy for the Pennines was developed, and the widening of the M62 motorway was postponed. Because of the rigid normative positions of the organisations commissioning the studies, the policy process was unresponsive and inappropriate, and could not have been successful.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/oclc/29485010
• Authors:
  • Richardson, T
  • HAYWOOD, R
• Publication Date: 1996

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: References;
• Pagination: p. 43-53
• Serial:
  • Transport Policy
  • Publisher: Elsevier
  • ISSN: 0967-070X
  • Serial URL: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/issn/096707X

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Benefit cost analysis; Evaluation and assessment; Federal government; Freeways; Highways; Mathematical models; Pavement widening; Planning; Policy; Public participation; Railroad transportation; Regional planning; Transportation
• Geographic Terms: United Kingdom
• ITRD Terms: 226: Cost benefit analysis; 9020: Evaluation (assessment); 183: Government (national); 2755: Highway; 6473: Mathematical model; 2752: Motorway; 143: Planning; 173: Policy; 142: Public participation; 1173: Rail bound transport; 359: Regional planning; 1155: Transport; 8119: United Kingdom; 2889: Widening (road, bridge)
• Subject Areas: Planning and Forecasting; Policy; Society; Transportation (General);

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00726613
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: Transport Research Laboratory
• Files: ITRD
• Created Date: Oct 28 1996 12:00AM